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Service Information
Jerri Sandifer, age 73, of Johns Creek, Georgia passed away peacefully at home in Johns Creek, GA on June 9, 2018. A memorial service to honor Jerri Sandifer will be held at a later date at Parkway Baptist Church 5975 State Bridge RD, Duluth, GA 30097 (770)476-4441. The family will receive friends at the church. The family has requested no flowers and any memorial contributions be made to The Jerri G. Sandifer Butterfly Memorial Garden. Georgia Cremation 3570 Buford Highway, Suite 202, Duluth, GA 30096 (678)584-0914 is assisting the family. Messages of condolence may be shared at www.GeorgiaCremation.com.
Life Story and Family
Jerri spent 25 years with DeKalb County Board of Education at Dresden Elementary and Sagamore Hills. Her passion for teaching was evident with the Sci-Quest Program and Monarch Butterfly Curriculum at the beginning of each school year. Sagamore Hills honored her with the Butterfly Garden in February 2018.
Jerri is survived by her husband, Dr. D. Wayne Sandifer; sons, Dr. Thomas E. Sharon, Jr.(Beth), and Dr. J. Michael Sharon (Amy). Also surviving Jerri include her grandchildren, Will Sharon, Holland Sharon, Carter Sharon, Harris Sharon, Declah Sandifer, Bobbi Sandifer, Dax Sandifer, Shelby Sandifer; brother, William Edward Gabriel, Jr.; sister, Jan Atherton Gabriel; and several nieces and nephews.
Regina King says
I am so sorry for your loss, Wayne and family! I will never forget Jerri. She was the heart of our Briarcliff Sunday School class many years ago. But I’m so glad I had a chance to visit her earlier this year. She amazingly was cheerful and loving even knowing she had limited time left. Heaven has gained another Angel. I hope she gives my dear Willard a hug for me.
Kathi Frankel says
Dear family,
Jerri will always be in our hearts as their teacher and friend.
God bless you and her memory will be a blessing for us all.
Janis Winogradsky says
I am so sorry to hear this. Mrs. Sandifer taught my daughter to read in kindergarten, and she’s loved reading ever since. Such a wonderful teacher. My sincere condolences to the Sandifer family.
Amy Lockwood says
Jerri left a wonderful legacy at Sagamore Hills Elementary! I was just singing her praises at an American Wilderness Leadership training. She will be missed!
Joe Frank Uriz says
Jerri was an incredible human being! I had the privilege of working with her at Sagamore Hills for 8 years. She was always supportive of my Spanish Program, and we enjoyed doing Sci-Quest together. She was truly dedicated to her students, parents, faculty, and staff. I remember those days clearly, I would leave work late and Jerri would be in her room still just working away past sunset, and she would be one of the first ones there every morning. She was a powerhouse educator that embraced her community and made sure every child met their educational needs and most importantly each child was loved. She influenced my teaching in so many ways, and I am so grateful to have known her through the years, and even in recent years had the time to catch-up on Facebook. I would be the person I am today if it wasn’t for Jerri Sandifer! Thank you, God Bless, you will be missed by many! Prayers for Wayne, family, and friends through this difficult time.
Jerry Clift Williamson says
Wayne, you and your family are my thoughts. I am so sorry for your loss.
Cecily and Isabelle says
To the Sandifer family – my deepest condolences.
I’m so sorry that this message will be arriving so late and hope it does reach you.
Last week I stumbled across some old photographs of my eldest daughter in Atlanta. There was one particularly charming one of her with Mrs. Sandifer in the classroom, it made me wonder what was happening back at Sagamore hills.
Isabelle was 5 at the time or the photo. We had been living in Haiti where I worked for CARE on an international development programme. The situation was deteriorating in Haiti, and we were eventually evacuated and stayed temporarily in Atlanta until finally moving on to live and work in Malawi.
Isabelle had the extraordinary good fortune to be placed in Mrs. Sandifer’s class at Sagamore Hills Elementary school. Sadly she was there for just one term, but if ever a teacher captured a child’s imagination and passion for learning at such a key moment of development, your quite extraordinary wife and mother did that. We were all going through tumultuous times arriving in America at short notice and not sure for how long or what was to happen, but she was welcomed into the classroom with warmth and joy.
More than 15 years on we still talk about the Great Monarch migration lessons and I still vividly recall clambering through giant spider webs to drop her off for a Monday morning class.
My daughter is now studying law back in London, and is currently spending her summer working with a Canadian professor on international indigenous land rights. When she graduates she wishes to work in environmental law, a thread continuing from some of those earliest moments of inspiration.
I hope that your first shock of grief and loss have passed but that her memory remains strong and bright and I wanted to take just a moment to let you know how far reaching and profound the impact of Jerri’s teaching skills and humanity have been.
Thank you